The Original Proposal
Boral first proposed a large-scale hard rock quarry on its land at Reedy Creek, located in the Tallebudgera Valley area of the Gold Coast. The site sits within a Key Resource Area (KRA 96) designated under the Queensland State Planning Policy, which identifies the greywacke deposits as a resource of state significance.
From the outset, the proposal was met with strong community opposition. Residents, environmental groups and local organisations raised concerns about the impacts on the surrounding residential area, koala habitat, waterways and the character of the Gold Coast hinterland.
2014: Gold Coast City Council Refuses the Quarry
On 18 July 2014, Gold Coast City Council unanimously refused Boral’s quarry application. Council found that the proposal was in material conflict with the planning scheme and that the impacts on residential amenity, environmental values and the character of the area could not be adequately addressed.
2017: Boral Appeals and Loses in Court
Boral challenged Council’s decision in the Planning and Environment Court. After a lengthy hearing, the Court handed down its decision in Boral Resources (Qld) Pty Ltd v Gold Coast City Council [2017] QPEC 23, dismissing Boral’s appeal.
The Court found that the quarry was in material conflict with the planning scheme and that there were not sufficient grounds to justify approval. Importantly, the Court also noted that any pressing need for an additional hard rock quarry in the region was unlikely before 2031 and more likely around 2040.
2018: Court of Appeal Upholds the Decision
Boral appealed again, this time to the Queensland Court of Appeal. The appeal was dismissed, reinforcing the findings of the Planning and Environment Court. The community had won in court, twice.
2022: Koalas Uplisted to Endangered
In February 2022, the Australian Government uplisted the koala from “vulnerable” to “endangered” under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. This was a significant development for the Reedy Creek site, which contains known koala habitat.
2025: Boral Lodges a New Application
Despite having lost in court twice, Boral lodged an entirely new development application for the Reedy Creek site in 2025. The new proposal reduced annual production from 2 million tonnes to 1.2 million tonnes per year and reduced the disturbance footprint by approximately 20 per cent. However, the fundamental nature of the proposal remained largely unchanged, including a 40-year operational life and the removal of J Ridge.
The Mudgeeraba Chamber of Commerce noted in its formal objection that “the fundamental problems with this proposal remain unchanged.”
Community opposition was immediate. Gecko Environment Council reported that approximately 5,500 objections were lodged with Gold Coast City Council during the public notification period.
7 February 2026: The Community Rallies
More than 2,000 Gold Coast residents gathered at Coplicks Sports Fields in Tallebudgera to rally against the quarry. Speakers included Federal MP Leon Rebello (McPherson), State MPs Laura Gerber (Currumbin), Hermann Vorster (Burleigh) and Ros Bates (Mudgeeraba), and Gold Coast City Councillors Gail O’Neill, Josh Martin and Glenn Tozer.
February 2026: The Ministerial Call-In
The Queensland Government issued a proposed call-in notice for Boral’s quarry application. This means the State Government is now considering whether to take over the decision from Gold Coast City Council. A 10-business-day public submission period was opened, closing on Tuesday 3 March 2026.
Where Things Stand Now
The community is once again making its voice heard. This fight has been going on for well over a decade, and at every stage, the people of Reedy Creek, Tallebudgera Valley and the broader Gold Coast have shown up. The courts have sided with the community twice. The question now is what happens next.
